This ‘Beyond the Gates' Star Admits She Was Nervous About Fan Backlash Following Her Character's Dramatic Debut
Beyond the Gates breakout star Angela Fairley, who portrays Deanna McBride, is opening up about the pressure of stepping into a key role within Fairmont Crest.
Deanna is the much talked about daughter of widower Vanessa McBride (Lauren Buglioli) and her late husband Doug McBride (Jason Graham).
The actress recently spoke with Natalie of Reel Perspectives, where she discussed joining the soap opera, adjusting to its faced-paced production schedule, and the show's recent two-season renewal.
Reflecting on her early days, Fairley recalled realizing Deanna's importance during her first fitting. "The actors working there that day were like ‘Oh my gosh, we've been waiting for you!,' and ‘they finally found Deanna!'" she said.
Fairly noted that while she had done professional acting work before, she had "never had an experience like this," and discussed how intense the pace is behind-the-scenes.
She said she was excited as she learned more about the character and how Deanna fits into the world of Fairmont Crest. "I was very excited and I felt a little bit of the pressure there, especially coming in so hot," she shared.
Fairley admitted she initially felt nervous about how audiences would respond, given Deanna's explosive introduction. However, after seeing a few episodes air, her perspective shifted.. "I feel now that we've gotten to see her a couple episodes and we see her integrating into the world. Exploring herself in it, I feel really excited!" she said.
Ultimately, Fairley said the experience of working on this groundbreaking soap opera has been unlike anything she's done before. "I'm still digesting all of it, but it's an honor," she said. "It really is an honor."
Viewers can check out the series from the beginning on Paramount Plus or on Pluto TV's dedicated 24/7 Beyond the Gates FAST channel. Fans can also catch the series from the beginning replaying on BET's T.G.I.G. (Thank Goodness Its Gates) block, airing Thursday evenings.
New episodes of Beyond the Gates air weekdays on CBS with episodes streaming weeknights on Paramount Plus.
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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 3:10 PM.